Online workshop for improvers - Make friends with an overlocker or serger

Make Friends With An Overlocker or Serger

Online Workshop with Tilly Walnes

Learn to use an overlocker or serger with confidence with our most popular online class. Includes threading, stitching, adjusting settings, balancing thread tension, troubleshooting, and lots more! Read on to find out more...

£45.00
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Tax included.
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TAKE YOUR SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

This online workshop is the essential guide to getting comfortable and confident using an overlocker (AKA serger).

An overlocker or serger is a great investment if you want to take your sewing up a level. This multi-thread machine stitches, trims and finishes seams in one go, creating a professional finish on your DIY clothes. It's a great way to finish the seam allowances on woven fabrics, or sew garments in stretch knit fabrics from scratch.

In this introductory class, Tilly will help you get over any fears you have about overlockers and help you feel confident using your machine. You will learn to set up, thread, stitch, adjust the settings, achieve balanced thread tension, troubleshoot common issues and care for your machine.

Want to learn to make a project too? Choose the two course bundle which includes the perfect next step - Sew a Sweatshirt on an Overlocker or Serger!

What equipment do I need?

Overlocker – AKA serger (the workshop includes advice on choosing one)

Four cones or spools of thread

Basic toolkit that should come with your machine (incl needles, long tweezers, small lint brush, spool caps, screwdriver or Allen/hex key)

How long will this workshop take?

That’s up to you! The course is broken down into manageable, bitesize lessons that you can take at a pace that suits you. It includes 9 succinct videos, from 5 to 35 minutes long, plus extra written tuition and a downloadable troubleshooting cheat sheet. You may like to spread the lessons out over a few evenings, set aside a weekend for a binge overlocking session, or simply refer to the videos whenever you need them.

This online workshop contains fully captioned video lessons, written tuition and downloadable resources.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Module 1

Get started with your overlocker

  • Choosing your overlocker or serger
  • Which essential supplies we recommend
Module 2

Thread Your Overlocker

  • How to thread your overlocker from scratch
  • How to change your overlocker threads quickly
  • Tips for threading the loopers and needle
  • How to change just one looper thread without breaking the chain
Module 3

Stitch + Finish Seams

  • Join seams on knit fabrics, like jersey, from scratch
  • How to finish seams on woven fabrics
  • How to navigate curves, corners and loops
  • How to save time with chain stitching
Module 4

Get to grips with the settings

  • What balanced stitches look like
  • Identify each thread on the seam
  • Adjust thread tension for different fabrics, layers and seam issues
  • Adjusting other settings – stitch length and width, cutting width, three or four thread overlock, disengaging the knife, differential feed, presser foot pressure
  • Sewing a rolled hem and lettuce edge finish
Module 5

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR SEWING

  • Diagnose and fix common seam issues
  • The fast way to unpick stitches
  • How to avoid mistakes
  • Fix mistakes quickly and get on with your sewing!
Module 6

CARING FOR YOUR MACHINE

  • How to clean and oil your overlocker or serger
  • How to replace the needles
  • Knowing when to get your machine serviced

WORKSHOP BENEFITS

1

STEP-BY-STEP VIDEOS

Follow an in-depth programme, structured with our trusted format.
See the sewing in detail with our video lessons!

2

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

Learn at a pace that suits you, any time of day, with no deadlines.
Set your own timetable!

3

LEARN AT HOME

Take the workshop from the comfort of your own home, using your own sewing machine.
There's no need to travel to a class or book a date in your busy diary!

4

GREAT VALUE

Revisit the lessons as often as you like, whenever you need a refresher -
for a fraction of the price of attending a face-to-face class!

WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR?

CURIOUS
You're thinking of investing in an overlocker or serger to take your sewing to the next level

LEARNERS
You own an overlocker or serger but you don't feel confident enough to use it regularly

REFRESHERS
You already use an overlocker or serger and want guides you can refer to when you get stuck

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Tilly Walnes

Tilly Walnes is a best-selling sewing author, teacher and founder of Tilly and the Buttons. She has been writing about sewing, designing and teaching for over a decade.

Named 'Most Inspirational Sewing Personality' in the British Sewing Awards, Tilly’s teaching is down-to-earth, encouraging and packed full of helpful tips. She loves sewing, and wants you to love it too!

What makers are saying

This is a fantastic workshop! I learned a lot of things about my machine, I would have never realised if I hadn’t watched this. Great tips, and an excellent resource for the future!

Helen

Thank you so much for this interesting and reassuring workshop. I have bitten the bullet and ordered an overlocker. It's reassuring to know that I can revisit these pages whenever I need to.

Jill

Clear instructions, great videos and I can come back again and again! I’ve done lots of practice, so now I am going to sit down and read my Coco pattern from cover to cover and have a go!

Ann

Sign Up Today

MAKE FRIENDS WITH AN OVERLOCKER OR SERGER
£45

Includes:

Instant, on-demand access with no deadlines

9 video lessons

Closed captions available on all videos

Written tuition + downloadable resources

Buy Now
TWO COURSE Bundle: + Sew a Sweatshirt on an Overlocker
£85

Includes:

Instant, on-demand access with no deadlines to:

23 video lessons

Closed captions available on all videos

Written tuition + downloadable resources

Drew sweatshirt PDF sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34

Great value! £100 if purchased individually

Buy Now
TWO COURSE Bundle: + Sew a Sweatshirt on an Overlocker + Printed Pattern
£95

Includes:

Instant, on-demand access with no deadlines to:

23 video lessons

Closed captions available on all videos

Written tuition + downloadable resources

Drew sweatshirt printed sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34 (PDF pattern is also included

Great value! £110 if purchased individually

Buy Now

Customer Reviews

Based on 24 reviews
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Catharine Caldwell
Really helpful

Clear step by step lessons presented in a friendly positive way. I opened the box of my new janome, same model as Tilly is using in the videos, and worked through the course over a few days. Being able to rewind, pause and check as I went along built confidence to attempt overlocking samples as suggested. Now practicing on linen scraps before I start my project. Highly recommend

Hi Catharine, thanks for the lovely review! I'm so glad the course helped you build confidence and that you're enjoying using your new Janome. Best of luck with your linen scraps, and I’m sure your project will turn out beautifully! Virginija x

D
Debbie Browne
Brilliant!

When I acquired my second hand overlocker I was really disappointed that after 2 days of trying I was unable to thread it! I tried several free you tube videos but nothing clicked. I used this course and managed to thread it that evening. I used it as a reference I keep going back to as I learn. Utterly brilliant and well worth the money. I will use over and over as I learn. I would definitely buy another course on the basis of this.

Hi Debbie, thanks so much for your review! I'm so glad the course helped you thread your overlocker and that you’re finding it useful as you learn. It’s wonderful to hear you’ll be buying another online workshop with us - yay! Virginija x

A
Angela Major
Really useful

I wish I had got this when I bought my janome overlocker- I considered it but didn’t- it sorts out all the problems about threading, tension and gives tips I haven’t seen elsewhere. The demonstrations are so clear and I can keep going back to bits of it. Really worth it.

Hi Angela, thanks so much for your kind words! Glad to hear the overlocker course is making your overlocking journey easier - yay! Happy sewing! Virginija x

S
Susan Goodfellow
Thank you :)

My overlocker is a simple enough machine - fairly inexpensive with no fancy tech - but it was very disheartening when I started (unsuccessfully) trying to use it.

This workshop was just what I needed. Clear instruction I could watch over (and over) if necessary. It was great for recaps until things became more familiar.

My overlocker isn’t the same as the ones used in the workshop but the principles are very clear. Between these and the instruction manual I easily conquered the machine and now use it all the time.

If you are struggling with your overlocker I’d recommend giving this workshop a go!

G
Gill Light
Exactly what I needed

Inherited my Mum’s overlocker and had no idea where to start but really wanted to get to grips with it. This course was perfect - I watched each part first then watched again as I sat at my overlocker to explore. I’m so much more confident now and am even a master at threading!

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